Core Viewpoint - A U.S. bankruptcy judge has approved a $400 million financing deal for Saks Global Enterprises to support its operations during Chapter 11 bankruptcy, despite opposition from Amazon and other creditors [1][2]. Financing and Bankruptcy Proceedings - Judge Alfredo Perez approved the initial $400 million financing after a lengthy courtroom battle lasting 7.5 hours, with Saks seeking a total of $1.75 billion to remain operational [2]. - Further approvals will be required from the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas for the complete financing plan [2]. Opposition from Creditors - Amazon and other creditors have expressed objections to the proposed financing plan, citing concerns over Saks' financial management and the potential impact on their investments [3][6]. - Amazon previously invested $475 million in preferred equity to assist Saks in acquiring Neiman Marcus for $2.65 billion, but now claims that this investment is effectively worthless due to Saks' failure to meet agreed terms [4]. Financial Performance and Obligations - Saks has reportedly failed to meet its financial targets, burning through hundreds of millions of dollars within a year and accumulating significant unpaid invoices to retail partners [5]. - Amazon's legal representatives argue that the new restructuring plan increases Saks' debt burden, further jeopardizing the investments of Amazon and other creditors [6].

Core Viewpoint - Amazon's investment in Saks Global has turned problematic, with the e-commerce giant declaring its stake "presumptively worthless" and opposing Saks' bankruptcy financing plans [1][2]. Investment Details - Amazon invested $475 million in preferred equity in Saks Global in December 2024, coinciding with its acquisition of Neiman Marcus Group for $2.7 billion [1][3]. - The investment was contingent upon Saks entering a commercial agreement to sell products on Amazon's platform, which included a guaranteed payment of at least $900 million over eight years [4]. Financial Performance and Bankruptcy - Saks Global has failed to meet its budgets, incurred hundreds of millions in losses, and accumulated significant unpaid invoices to retail partners, leading to its Chapter 11 filing with a $1.75 billion financing package [2][3]. - Amazon's legal filings argue that the bankruptcy plan would burden Saks with additional debt, harming both Amazon and other creditors by misusing the value of Saks' flagship entities [5]. Legal Proceedings - Amazon has expressed a desire for Saks to address its concerns but has indicated it may pursue more severe actions, such as requesting the appointment of an examiner or trustee [3]. - A federal judge has granted Saks approval to access an initial round of its financing despite Amazon's objections [6].

Core Viewpoint - Blue-chip stocks are expected to lead the US equity market in 2026, driven by a resilient economy and the artificial intelligence boom [1] Economic Context - The Dow Jones Industrial Average has reached an all-time high, reflecting strong investor sentiment towards large blue-chip companies, with a rally extending beyond mega-cap technology into industrial, financial, and biotechnology sectors [2] - Interest rate cuts are anticipated to support the outlook for mega-cap stocks, with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell indicating a "shallow but steady" path for rate reductions, allowing equity strategists to raise price targets for blue-chip stocks [3][4] - US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that lower interest rates are crucial for accelerating economic growth, which aligns with Goldman Sachs' expectation of a cyclical upturn benefiting large-cap stocks [4] Investment Methodology - A list of blue-chip ETFs was analyzed to identify stocks with over 20% upside potential as of January 15, along with the number of hedge funds holding stakes in these stocks as of Q3 2025 [6] Company Highlights - **BlackRock Inc. (NYSE:BLK)**: - Identified as a top blue-chip stock for 2026 with a 21.01% upside potential and 63 hedge fund holders [8][9] - Plans to invest $333.6 million in Aditya Birla Renewables Limited, enhancing its position in the renewable energy sector [10] - Morgan Stanley has set a price target of $1,514 for BlackRock, citing its expansion in private markets and technology solutions [11][12] - **Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN)**: - Recognized as another leading blue-chip stock for 2026 with a 21.47% upside potential and 332 hedge fund holders [13] - Analysts at Evercore ISI have set a price target of $335, highlighting growth driven by its AI-powered shopping assistant, Rufus, which is expected to increase retail gross merchandise volume by 4.44% by 2028 [14][15] - Amazon's cloud unit has partnered with Infosys to enhance enterprise services using generative AI, integrating Topaz AI services with AWS [16][17]

Group 1 - Rio Tinto will supply copper leached from an Arizona mine to Amazon.com [1] - The copper will be used in Amazon's artificial intelligence data centers [1]

Core Insights - The retail landscape is evolving towards 2050, reshaping the competitive dynamics between Amazon and Walmart as both companies innovate in retail and commerce [2] Group 1: Company Strategies - Walmart is focusing on interoperability and collaboration, aligning with Google on agentic shopping standards to enhance the future of retail AI [6][8] - Amazon is prioritizing speed and control through proprietary systems, exemplified by its new megastore in Chicago and the introduction of portable "Just Walk Out" kiosks [10][12] - The contrasting strategies highlight a role reversal, with Walmart embracing open standards while Amazon builds its own closed ecosystem [5][16] Group 2: Market Implications - Walmart's collaboration with Google may lead to the rise of third-party shopping agents, making price and availability more critical than brand loyalty [14] - Amazon's approach aims to integrate commerce into daily life, reinforcing brand loyalty through physical and digital touchpoints [15] - The competitive landscape may shift as both companies adapt their strategies, potentially leading to unexpected convergence in their approaches [16]

Core Viewpoint - Amazon is opposing Saks Global's bankruptcy financing plan, citing significant financial mismanagement and a breach of their agreement following Saks' acquisition of Neiman Marcus [1][2]. Financial Performance - Saks has reportedly "burned through hundreds of millions of dollars in less than a year" and has accumulated "hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid invoices" to retail partners [2]. - The acquisition of Neiman Marcus for $2.7 billion in December 2024 included Amazon's investment of $475 million, which is now considered "presumptively worthless" due to Saks' financial failures [2]. Bankruptcy Proceedings - Amazon argues that Saks' bankruptcy financing plan is detrimental as it adds new debt to parts of the Saks corporation and diminishes Amazon's position in the repayment hierarchy [3]. - A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge has allowed Saks to access $1.75 billion in new bankruptcy financing, which Saks claims is necessary to avoid immediate liquidation [4]. Strategic Implications - The deal with Saks was intended to enhance Amazon's luxury product offerings through a "Saks at Amazon" storefront, which guaranteed at least $900 million in payments to Amazon over eight years [2]. - Amazon's involvement in Saks raised the potential for deeper investment in the department store chain, aligning with its strategy to expand its physical retail presence [6]. Other Stakeholders - Salesforce also became a minority shareholder in Saks during the Neiman Marcus acquisition, although its response to the bankruptcy plan remains unclear [8].

AI sign displayed on a screen and Amazon logo displayed on a phone screen are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on December 23, 2025. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty ImagesAs of January 14, 2026, Amazon stock (NASDAQ: AMZN) has achieved an 11% return in the last year, falling behind several mega-cap tech rivals such as Google (78%) and Microsoft (14%). Despite leading in revenue scale at $670.038 billion, its profitability (11.37% operating margin) ...

While much of the lackluster enthusiasm surrounding Amazon's AMZN stock has been due to fears of market-share losses for Amazon Web Services, Raymond James has highlighted another AI challenge that the company faces — this time, in its retail business. Amazon.com has struggled to convince investors that it's a top artificial-intelligence player among the Big Tech names, and even bulls acknowledge that there are challenges ahead of the company. ...

Group 1: Semiconductor Industry - Wells Fargo upgraded semiconductor stocks with AMD as the top pick, highlighting AMD's 90% gains in 2025 compared to Nvidia's 37% [1] - AMD's stock rose 6.5% this week to $223.60, with earnings expected on February 3rd, projecting $1.33 EPS on $9.7 billion revenue [1] - TSMC reported Q4 revenue of $33.73 billion and EPS of $19.50, beating estimates by 9%, with gross margins at 62.3% [3] - TSMC's advanced nodes (7nm and below) now account for 77% of wafer revenue, indicating strong demand for cutting-edge technology [3] - Nvidia's stock dropped 3.2% to $183.14 amid potential restrictions from China on AI chip purchases, despite strong earnings performance [2] Group 2: AI Infrastructure and Related Companies - Amazon's deal with Rio Tinto for copper supply highlights the physical infrastructure demands of AI, as data centers require significant electrical capacity [4] - Microsoft invested nearly $500 million in Anthropic, reinforcing its position in AI infrastructure, with a stock price of $459.38 [6] - Meta is pivoting away from the Metaverse to focus on AI, leading to a 5.1% drop in stock price to $615.52, indicating a strategic shift [5] - The software sector faces challenges from AI, with Salesforce's stock dropping 10% to $239.57 due to concerns about AI potentially replacing traditional workflows [7]

Amazon is reportedly challenging luxury retailer Saks Global’s bankruptcy filing.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.The eCommerce giant accuses the company of breaking an agreement on the sale of Saks ...